Sarajevo settlement Marijin Dvor, located in the center of the city, is adorned by the graceness and beauty of St.Joseph Church.
It was built just before the Second World War, in 1940. The construction began in 1936, by the Archbishop Šarić, who in that very same area had founded the parish St.Joseph, for the part of the city under name Marijin Dvor.
This sacred Church was built in neo-Romanesque style, and projected by the architect Karl Paržik.
In a plan the church is triple-aisled basilica with transept. Below the sanctuary is a crypt with the tomb of Archbishop Ivan Šarić. There are a further fifteen tombs in the south, west and east walls of the church.
St.Joseph Church, Marijin Dvor, Sarajevo
This prominent architect has designed many historically important buildings in Sarajevo.
The Church is very skillfully integrated in the surrounding neighborhood. Stone walls were made of white Herzegovinia stone, and are characterized by the playfulness of mass and volume, what in the end to this part of town, gives a truly urban image.
The Church owns galleys, two of the sacristy and two oratorios. The main marble alter was a gift from Pope Pius XII. Pictures of St.Peter, St.Andrew and museum in the crypt of the parish (founded by the first pastor Ladislav Gagulić), as well as rich cultural vitrage indicate the importance of this facility for the whole area. The side altars and the tombs in the crypts were carved by Franjo Rebhan.
Next to the Church, Archbishop Šarić built buildings and the archidocesan curia and Vrhbosna Capitol having the intent to make the church a Cathedral. But after the nationalization, it did not happen.
In 1939 the church was painted by Josip Podolski, and the original stained glass windows were designed by the Ivan Marinković.
Half of the vitrage that were heaviliy damaged during the World War II, in the former Yugoslavia were originally made before the twenty-five years, while the other half was formed in early 19th century by the unknown author.
